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Queen signals a new assembly era
2011-06-07 17:51:17
7 June 2011 Last updated at 20:12 Share this page Delicious Digg Facebook reddit StumbleUpon Twitter Email Print Queen opens Welsh assembly's fourth term in Cardiff
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//Carwyn Jones promises to make Wales a healthier and more prosperous nation
"I respect the people who are attending but I decided to carry on my work as an assembly member and try to represent the people of my area to the best of my abilities."
But their Plaid Cymru colleague and former presiding officer Lord Elis-Thomas said it was right that The Queen should take part in an historic day, opening an assembly which now has direct law-making powers.
He said it was a recognising the "new democracy of Wales", an occasion as significant as the state opening of parliament at Westminster.
"It's our day - a day for celebrating Wales within the UK constitution," he said.
"We live within a parliamentary constitution which has a monarchical structure - if people want to have a debate about whether there should be a republic and we had a referendum, there's no question about which way I would vote."
The Senedd's new Presiding Officer, Rosemary Butler, AM, told BBC Radio Wales afterwards that she faced a "very interesting task" in steering the members forward to make sure its new powers were used "for the people of Wales".
She added that the debating style of the AMs in Cardiff was different to MPs in Westminster.
She said she was confident that all the political parties would work together and if there is "confrontation" then she will "have to be more strict".
There was also room to "communicate better" with the people of Wales about the Senedd's work, she added.
The Queen and Prince Philip arrive at the Wales Millennium Centre 'High expectations'The reception at the Wales Millennium Centre was used to showcase new and established Welsh talent, including choir Only Men Aloud.
Personnel from No. 4 School of Technical Training, based at MoD St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan, took part in parade duties with members of the Air Training Corps from around Wales.
A referendum in March gave assembly members the right to make laws for Wales in 20 devolved areas without requiring the permission of the UK Government.
The queen opened the assembly with Labour in government but without an outright majority.
The party won 30 of the 60 seats in May's elections.
The assembly has developed ceremonial elements of previous royal openings by engaging the Wales Herald, the Honourable Thomas Lloyd, and enhancing the role of the Macebearer, David Melding AM.
The Wales Herald takes part in occasions such as the State Opening of Parliament.
The mace is the symbol of the royal authority by which the assembly makes laws.
Ahead of Tuesday's royal visit, a ceremony entitled the Celebration of the Mace took place at the Senedd.
It emphasised the need for greater understanding between different sectors of society.